Apparatus, systems and methods for audio content shuffling

ABSTRACT

Song shuffling system plays a series of songs selected from a shuffled plurality of predefined audio content sources. An exemplary embodiment concurrently receives, during a shuffle operation, a stream of audio content from each of the predefined audio content sources, wherein each of the streams of audio content comprises a plurality of serially received songs. Each song is stored by the media device as the song is received. A first predefined audio content source is selected from the predefined audio content sources. Then, a first song is selected having a beginning portion that is stored in the memory medium and that was provided by the selected first predefined audio content source. A second predefined audio content source is selected from the predefined audio content sources that is to provide a second song that is to be presented to the user upon conclusion of the presentation of the first song.

BACKGROUND

Media devices, such as a set top box, a cellular phone, a smart phone, anotepad, a stereo, a radio, a television, a computer system, a gamesystem, or the like, are often configured to present audio content. Theaudio content is received in a content stream communicated from a remotesource to the media device via a content delivery system. The receivedaudio content is processed and is then communicated to a soundreproducing device, such as a speaker, headphone or the like. Theparticular source of the audio content is specified by a user who islistening to the audio content.

The audio content typically comprises a series of individual songs. Asong is a composition of music performed by one or more artists who maybe singing and/or playing a musical instrument. The song has adiscernible beginning and an end. Thus, a stream of audio contentcomprises a series of songs, where a next song begins after a conclusionof a previous song. There may be intervening commentary by a person orintervening commercial advertisements or messages disposed between songsof the audio content, such as typically encountered in a broadcast audiocontent medium.

Audio content sources include any provider of audio content. Anon-limiting example of an audio content provider is a radio stationthat broadcasts audio content over the air to a media device. Here, theaudio content delivery system employs over-the-air wireless signals thatare detected by a radio frequency (RF) tuner, such as typically found ina radio or the like.

The audio content may be communicated using other audio content deliverysystems. For example, but not limited to, a satellite system maybroadcast audio and/or video content in a satellite signal that isreceived by the media device. As another example, the audio content maybe communicated over cable system using a wire-based signal. In yetanother example, the audio content may be communicated from a web siteto the media device 102 via the Internet, or may be communicated to themedia device via a wireless system the employs a cellular phone signaland/or a Wi-Fi signal.

Other exemplary audio content delivery systems may include an electronicdevice that is communicatively coupled to the media device. Here, theelectronic device accesses the audio content from a memory medium. Forexample, but not limited to, the audio content may be communicated tothe media device from a digital video recorder (DVR) player or a compactdisc (CD) player that is playing a CD, DVD, or the like. As anotherexample, a flash memory device may be accessing previously stored audiocontent that has been saved into the flash memory. Other examplesinclude audio content provided by a record player (playing a record) ora cassette tape player (playing a cassette tape).

In some situations, the user may wish to listen to a constantly changingvariety of audio content. CD players have been devised to provide arandom and constantly changing stream of audio content, referred to as“shuffling” in the arts. Here, a plurality of CDs reside in the CDplayer. The CDs are shuffled in and out of the CD optical readercomponent of the CD player so that a continuing and changing stream ofindividual songs, in their entirety, are played to the user. Someembodiments may select songs at random from the different CDs.Alternatively, songs may be selected in a predefined order from thedifferent CDs.

As another example, “shuffling” of songs may be implemented when asingle source of audio content is providing the audio content. Forexample, a web site or the like may have a large repository ofindividual songs. Songs from the repository can be selected in a mannerthat emulates shuffling. The “shuffled” series of songs may then becommunicated to the user's media device 102 for presentation to theuser.

However, there is no practical way to provide shuffling of audio contentfrom a plurality of broadcasting audio content providers in a mannerthat plays songs in their entirety. Radios are known to have a “shuffle”function wherein the radio periodically changes its tuning from onebroadcasting station to another broadcasting station. However, only acurrently broadcasting individual song can be presented to the user whois listening to their radio. When the radio shuffles (re-tunes) to a newbroadcasting radio station, the radio can only present the currentlybroadcasting audio content that the radio is currently tuned to. Thus,it is likely that the currently broadcasted song has already startedprior to the re-tuning to that broadcasting radio station such that theuser can only listen to a concluding portion of the currentlybroadcasting song. Here, the user is unable to listen to the song in itsentirety (since the initial portion of the song has already beenbroadcasted by the radio station).

Accordingly, there is a need in the arts to provide systems and methodsof improved shuffling of audio content.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods of shuffling play of songs are disclosed. Anexemplary embodiment concurrently receives, during a shuffle operation,a stream of audio content from each one of a plurality of predefinedaudio content sources, wherein each of the streams of audio contentcomprises a plurality of songs that are serially received at the mediadevice. Each song is stored in a memory medium of the media device asthe song is received. A first predefined audio content source isselected from the plurality of predefined audio content sources. Then, afirst song is selected having at least a beginning portion that isstored in the memory medium and that was provided by the selected firstpredefined audio content source. A second predefined audio contentsource is selected from the plurality of predefined audio contentsources that is to provide a second song that is to be presented to theuser upon conclusion of the presentation of the first song.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative embodiments are described in detail below withreference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an audio content shufflesystem implemented in a media device operating in a media contentdelivery environment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the audio content shufflesystem implemented in an example set top box (STB);

FIG. 3 is a conceptual illustration of an embodiment of an audio contentshuffle GUI;

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually illustrating four audio content streams402, 404, 406 and 408 received from four different predefined audiocontent sources; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram conceptually indicating content stored in thepointer table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an audio content shufflesystem 100 implemented in a media device 102, such as, but not limitedto, a set top box (STB), operating in a media content deliveryenvironment 104. Embodiments of the audio content shuffle system (ACSS)100 may be implemented in other media devices, such as, but not limitedto, a stereo, a surround-sound receiver, a radio, a television (TV), adigital video disc (DVD) player, a digital video recorder (DVR), acompact disc (CD) player, a cell phone, a smart phone, a note pad, agame playing device, or a personal computer (PC) that is configured toreceive audio content.

Embodiments of the audio content shuffle system 100 are configured toshuffle songs presented by the media device 102. The songs are receivedin a plurality of audio content streams that are concurrently receivedat the media device 102 during a shuffle operation. A “shuffle” isdefined as a change from first audio content (received from a firstaudio content source and/or received in a first audio content stream) tosecond audio content (received from by a second audio content sourceand/or received in a second audio content stream). That is, the mediadevice 102 “shuffles” from first song received from a first audiocontent source to second song received from a second audio contentsource (that is different from the first audio content source).

Preferably, the shuffling occurs at a conclusion of a currentlypresented song (interchangeably referred to herein as a “shuffled-fromsong”) received from the first predefined audio content source, suchthat presentation then proceeds (continues) with a beginning of a nextsong (interchangeably referred to herein as a “shuffled-to song”)received from the second predefined audio content source. In contrastwith prior art shuffling in a broadcast environment, the entirety of theshuffled-to song is presented by the media device 102 to the userbecause the initial portion of the shuffled-to song has been saved atthe media device 102.

For example, in a broadcast environment, the predefined audio contentsources may be broadcasting stations, such as a radio station or othersong-based broadcasting source. During a shuffling operation, the mediadevice 102 (with multiple tuners) currently tunes to at least a firstbroadcasting station and a second broadcasting station such thatreceived songs are saved at the media device 102. After the conclusionof the presentation of a currently presented song, the next shuffled-tosong is presented in its entirety to a user.

The plurality of audio content streams may be provided to the mediadevice 102 from a variety of different types of audio content sources.In some situations, the media device 102 may be receiving a broadcast ofa series of songs from a broadcasting audio content source whileconcurrently receiving a series of songs from a non-broadcasting audiocontent source that is communicatively coupled to the media device 102.Non-limiting examples of a non-broadcasting audio content sourceinclude, but are not limited to, a record player, a CD player, a DVDplayer, a cassette tape player, a website, a memory medium, or the like.

As a series of songs are being received by the media device 102, each ofthe received songs received from the plurality of audio content sourcesare stored in a memory medium 106 residing in or communicatively coupledto the media device 102. Individual songs in the received audio contentstreams are identifiable by at least their beginning (interchangeablyreferred to herein as the start of the song), their conclusion(interchangeably referred to herein as the end of the song), and theaudio content source that provided the song to the media device 102.

During operation, a song that is received in a currently selected one ofthe audio content sources is presented to the user. At the conclusion ofthe song, the audio content shuffle system 100 changes (shuffles) toanother one of the plurality of audio content sources. Since the nextsong received in the shuffled-to audio content stream has been stored inthe memory medium 106, embodiments of the audio content shuffle system100 access the next song at its beginning. The entirety of the next songis then presented to the user.

Upon the conclusion of the presentation of that next song, anothershuffling occurs to another one of the audio content sources. A songreceived in the next shuffled-to audio content source is being saved, orhas already been saved, into the memory medium 106. Accordingly, thisnext shuffled-to song may be presented in its entirety when this song isaccessed at its beginning from the memory medium 106.

The example media content delivery environment 104 provides(communicates) the plurality of media content streams 108(interchangeably referred to as an audio content stream 108 when videocontent is absent) to the media device 102 from a variety of differentaudio content sources. For example, but not limited to, one or moremedia content streams 108 may be broadcast from a media contentbroadcast facility 110 to the media device 102. In an exampleenvironment, a single received media content stream 108 may have aplurality of streams of audio content (comprising a series of songs)interleaved together in the media content stream 108. Here, the mediadevice 102 tunes to the particular media content stream 108 providingaudio content from a specified audio content source, and then processesthe media content stream 108 to access the series of songs provided bythe specified audio content source,

Some media content streams 108 have only a single stream of audiocontent therein. A non-limiting example of a media content stream 108with a single audio content stream is a RF broadcast from a radiostation that is broadcasting a radio program. Other examples of audiocontent sources providing a single steam of audio content include, butare not limited to, a record player, a CD player, a DVD player, acassette tape player, a website, a memory medium, or the like.

Other media content streams 108 may be comprised of a plurality of audiocontent streams and video/audio content streams. An example of a mediacontent stream with a plurality of audio content streams and/orvideo/audio content streams may be referred to as a transport channelthat is communicated from a satellite down to a plurality of receivingmedia devices 102.

As noted herein, a media content stream 108 may include one or morecontent streams that have both video and audio content. Here, anexemplary media content stream 108 comprises a series of media contentevents that each have a video component and an audio component. Forexample, but not limited to, a particular “channel” may be broadcastinga movie. The movie is defined by a series of video scenes that presentthematic content (a story) on a display device. The audio component ofthe movie may include dialogue spoken between actors, and from time totime, one or more songs. Embodiments of the audio content shuffle system100 discern the individual songs received in the movie, and store theidentified songs in the memory medium 106.

As another example, the media content event may be a music video thatpresents video content and a single associated song. Embodiments of theaudio content shuffle system 100 discern the individual songs receivedin the music video, and store the identified songs in the memory medium106. Additionally, some embodiments may also store the video componentof the music video such that when the song is presented in a shuffleoperation, the video content associated with the presented song is alsopresented on the display 150.

A variety of types of audio content delivery systems may be used for thebroadcast of the media content stream 108 to the media devices 102. Anexample portion of the audio content delivery system may employ asatellite system 112 wherein an uplink signal 114 is communicated from aground antenna 116 up to one or more satellites 118. Each of theexemplary satellites 118 broadcast a wireless satellite signal 120(which may be referred to as a transport channel) down to a receiverantenna 123 that is coupled to the media device 102.

Alternatively, or additionally, an example portion of the audio contentdelivery system may employ an over the air (OTA) system 122 wherein anOTA wireless signal 124 is communicated over the air. The wirelesssignal 124 is received by the receiver antenna 123.

Alternatively, or additionally, an example portion of the audio contentdelivery system may employ a cable system 126 wherein a wire-basedsignal is communicated using a suitable cable 128 or the like that iscoupled to the media device 102. Non-limiting examples of the cable 128include a fiber optic cable, a coaxial cable, a high definitionmulti-media interface (HDMI) cable, and a telephone line.

The media content stream 108 may also be received by the media device102 in other manners. In an exemplary embodiment, a remote media contentdevice 130, such as an Internet site or the like, may provide the mediacontent stream 108 to the media device 102 over an interveningcommunication system 132 via an established communication link 134. Thecommunication link 134 may be a wire-based communication link wherein awire connector, cable or the like communicatively coupled the mediadevice 102 to the intervening communication system 132. Alternatively,or additionally, the communication link 132 may be a wireless link, suchas employed by a Wi-Fi system, a cellular phone system, or the like.

Alternatively, or additionally, the media device 102 may becommunicatively coupled to one or more an audio content devices 136.Non-limiting examples of an external content device include, but are notlimited to, a portable memory medium, a DVD player, a CD player, arecord player, a video cassette recorder, or the like. These types ofaudio content devices 136 access stored and/or received audio content(and/or audio/video content) residing in a memory medium 138. Forexample, the audio content device 136 a may be a CD player that isaccessing songs from a CD, here the example memory medium 138 a. Asanother non-limiting example, the audio content device 136 i may be arecord player that is accessing songs from a vinyl record, here thememory medium 138 i.

In some situations, the audio content device 136 may be receiving abroadcasted audio content stream. For example, the audio content device136 may be a radio tuner or the like that is communicatively coupled tothe media device 102. Here, the radio receives the OTA wireless signal124, and then communicates the audio content to the media device 102 inthe media content stream 108.

The exemplary media device 102 is communicatively coupled to a mediapresentation system 140 that includes a visual display device 142, suchas a television (hereafter, generically a TV), and an audio presentationdevice 144, such as a surround sound receiver, that outputs the audiocontent on one or more speakers 146 (and/or a headphone 148 worn by theuser). Other types of output devices may also be coupled to the mediadevice 102, including those providing any sort of stimuli sensible by ahuman being, such as temperature, vibration and the like.

The video portion of the streamed content, if present, is displayed onthe TV display 150. The audio portion of the streamed content isreproduced as sounds by one or more TV speakers (not shown). The volumeoutput of the audio portion may be controllable at the TV 142, at theaudio presentation device 144, and/or at the media device 102.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an audio content shufflesystem 100 implemented in an example set top box (STB). The non-limitingexemplary media device 102 comprises a media content stream interface202, a processor system 204, a memory 206, a content buffer 208, anoptional digital video recorder (DVR) 210, a presentation deviceinterface 212, a remote interface 214, an optional communication system(CS) interface 216, and an optional device interface 218. The memory 206comprises portions for storing the media device logic 220, theelectronic program guide (EPG) information 222, the audio contentshuffle processing logic 224, pointer table 226, and an optional browser228. In some embodiments, the media device logic 220 and the audiocontent shuffle processing logic 224 may be integrated together, and/ormay be integrated with other logic. In other embodiments, some or all ofthese memory and other data manipulation functions may be provided byand using remote server or other electronic devices suitably connectedvia the Internet or otherwise to a client device. Other media devices102 may include some, or may omit some, of the above-described mediaprocessing components. Further, additional components not describedherein may be included in alternative embodiments.

The functionality of the media device 102, here a set top box, is nowbroadly described. When operating in a broadcast type environment, amedia content provider provides media content that is received in one ormore multiple media content streams 108 multiplexed together in one ormore transport channels. The transport channels with the media contentstreams 108 are communicated to the media device 102 from a media systemor device.

For example, in a broadcast-based environment, the media content (whichinherently includes audio content) is sourced from the media contentbroadcast facility 110 (FIG. 1) operated by a media content provider.Non-limiting examples of such media delivery systems operating in abroadcast environment include satellite systems, cable system, and theInternet. For example, if the media content provider providesprogramming via a satellite-based communication system 112, the mediadevice 102 is configured to receive one or more broadcasted satellitesignals 120 detected by the receiver antenna 123. Alternatively, oradditionally, the media content stream 108 can be separately and/orconcurrently received from one or more different sources, such as, butnot limited to, a cable system, a radio frequency (RF) communicationsystem, or the Internet.

The one or more broadcasted media content streams 108 are received bythe media content stream interface 202. In the broadcast environment,one or more tuners 202 a, 202 i in the media content stream interface202 selectively tune to one of the media content streams 108 inaccordance with instructions received from the processor system 204. Theprocessor system 204, executing the media device logic 220 and basedupon a request for a media content event of interest specified by auser, parses out media content associated with the media content eventof interest. When the audio content shuffle system 100 is operational toshuffle presentation of audio content, the media content events ofinterest are appreciated to be individual songs.

The media content event of interest, here songs during presentation ofaudio content, is then assembled into a stream of audio information(and/or video information if present, as in the case of music videos,movies or the like) which may be stored by the content buffer 208 suchthat the media content can be streamed out to components of the mediapresentation system 140, such as the visual display device 142 and/orthe audio presentation device 144, via the presentation device interface212. Alternatively, or additionally, the parsed out media content may besaved into the DVR 210 for later presentation. The DVR 210 may bedirectly provided in, locally connected to, or remotely connected to,the media device 102.

From time to time, information populating the EPG information 222portion of the memory 206 is communicated to the media device 102, viathe media content stream 108 or via another suitable media. The EPGinformation 222 stores information pertaining to the scheduledprogramming of media content events. The information may include, but isnot limited to, a scheduled presentation start and/or end time, aprogram channel, and descriptive information. In the case of audiocontent, the descriptive information may describe the nature of theaudio content (classic rock, country, show tunes, operas, etc.). Themedia content event's descriptive information may include the title ofthe media content event, names of performers or actors, date ofcreation, and a summary describing the nature of the media contentevent. Any suitable information may be included in the supplementalinformation. Upon receipt of a command from the user requestingpresentation of an EPG display, the information in the EPG information222 is retrieved, formatted, and then presented on the display 150 as anEPG.

The exemplary media device 102 is configured to receive commands from auser via a remote control 230. The remote control 230 includes one ormore controllers 232 disposed on the surface of the remote control 230.The user, by actuating one or more of the controllers 232, causes theremote control 230 to generate and transmit commands, via a wirelesssignal 234, to the media device 102. The commands control the mediadevice 102 and/or control the media presentation system 140 devices. Thewireless signal 234 may be an infrared (IR) signal or a radio frequency(RF) signal that is detectable by the remote interface 214.

As noted above, a user (not shown) may view and listen to variousaudio/video content when presented on the exemplary television 142and/or the exemplary surround sound receiver 144. That is, based uponthe user commands, typically generated at and transmitted from theremote control 230 in the wireless signal 234 that is received by theremote interface 214, the media device 102 can then control itselfand/or the other various media devices that it is communicativelycoupled to. Accordingly, available media content, such as a series ofsongs, is presented in accordance with the generated user commands.

The processes performed by the media device 102 relating to theprocessing of the received media content stream 108 and communication ofa presentable media content event to the components of the mediapresentation system 140 are generally implemented by the processorsystem 204 while executing the media device logic 220. Thus, the mediadevice 102 may perform a variety of functions related to the processingand presentation of one or more media content events (such as, but notlimited to, a series of songs) received in the media content stream 108.

The processes performed by the media device 102 relating to theshuffling and presentation of songs are generally implemented by theprocessor system 204 while executing the audio content shuffleprocessing logic 224. Thus, the media device 102 may perform a varietyof functions related to the shuffling a series of songs received in themedia content stream 108 or received from the audio content devices 136.

In the various embodiments, the audio content shuffle system 100shuffles presentation of songs that have been, or are being provided by,a plurality of predefined audio content sources that have beendesignated by the user. That is, the user predefines, specifies orotherwise selects a plurality of audio content sources prior to ashuffle operation. Identifiers of the predefined plurality of audiocontent sources are saved in a suitable location in the memory 206, suchas in the pointer table 226, or in another suitable memory medium. Inoperation, a series of shuffled songs may then be presented to the userin accordance with those identified predefined audio content sources.

When the predefined audio content sources are providing a broadcastedstream of audio content (or a stream of video/audio content), uniqueidentifier information that uniquely identifies each of the predefinedaudio content sources is stored in the pointer table 226 or in anothersuitable memory medium or memory location. Accordingly, a listing of aplurality of audio content sources is predefined by the user. Exampleidentifier information for broadcasting types of predefined audiocontent sources may include, but are not limited to, a channel number ora station call sign.

The identifier information of the broadcasting audio content sources,when the media device 102 is receiving a particular stream of audiocontent (or a stream of video/audio content) from the media contentbroadcast facility 110 (FIG. 1), includes information so that theprocessor system 204, based on the identifier information, providescontrol instructions to one of the tuners 202 a-i to cause thedesignated tuner to tune to the particular media content stream 108 thatis associated with the identified audio content source. Accordingly, theseries of songs received from that particular “tuned-to” broadcastingaudio content source are saved into the content buffer 208, the memorymedium 106, or the like in an example embodiment as the series of songsare received at the media content stream interface 202.

In embodiments of the media device 102 that have a plurality of tuners202 a-i, a plurality of different broadcasting predefined audio contentsources may be specified by the user. Accordingly, the processor system204 provides control instructions to different ones of the plurality oftuners 202 a-i to cause each of the designated tuners to tune to theparticular media content stream 108 that is associated with one of theidentified audio content sources. As each of the broadcasted songs arereceived at a particular one of the tuners 202 a-i, the songs are savedinto the content buffer 208, the memory medium 106, or the like. In someembodiments, associated video content may be also saved into the contentbuffer 208, the memory medium 106, or the like along with the receivedsongs.

In some situations, a single tuner 202 may receive audio content streamsfrom multiple audio content sources. Here, the processor system 204simply parses out the songs from the media content stream 108 that arebeing provided by the predefined ones of the audio content sources thatare broadcasting within the same media content stream 108. Accordingly,single-tuner media devices can shuffle between different broadcastedaudio streams so long as they are all commonly received in a singlemedia content stream 108. Media devices 102 with multiple tuners 202 a-imay shuffle between a greater number of broadcasting audio contentsources.

Some media devices 102 are provisioned with a virtual tuner.Accordingly, such media devices 102 can receive songs from a pluralityof broadcasting predefined audio content sources.

In some situations, one or more of the predefined audio content sourcesmay be located at one or more of the remote media content devices 130.An exemplary remote media content device 130 may be a web site thatprovides audio content. Here, the identifying information of a remotemedia content device 130 includes information that permits the mediadevice 102 to establish a link 134, using its respective CS interface216 and via the communication system 132, to the designated (predefined)remote media content device 130. For example, the identifyinginformation may include a web site address, a hypertext transferprotocol (http) identifier, or the like. The processor system 204 maythen use the identifying information to establish the link 134 to thepredefined remote media content device 130.

Once the link 134 has been established between the media device 102 andthe predefined remote media content device 130, a stream of audiocontent may be received from that particular remote media content device130. For example, but not limited to, the remote media content device130 may be operable to provide a stream of country songs to the mediadevice 102. As each of the country songs are received from the remotemedia content device 130, the songs are saved into the content buffer208, the memory medium 106, or the like. In some embodiments, associatedvideo content may be also saved into the content buffer 208, the memorymedium 106, or the like along with the received songs.

In some situations, multiple streams of audio content may be availablefrom a single remote media content device 130. For example, the remotemedia content device 130 may be configured to provide one or more themedstreams of rock and roll music, streams of country music, etc.Accordingly, the user may specify and/or request multiple streams ofaudio content from the remote media content device 130 which may bereceived over the established communication link 134. As each of theindividual songs are received from the remote media content device 130,the songs are saved into the content buffer 208, the memory medium 106,or the like, and are associated with an identifier that identifies therequested stream of themed music and the remote media content device130. In some embodiments, associated video content may be also savedinto the content buffer 208, the memory medium 106, or the like alongwith the received songs.

In some embodiments, the processor system 204, executing the browser228, may use descriptive information provided by the user to identifylocation information of the remote media content device 130 and thenestablish the communication link 134 to that particular remote mediacontent device 130. For example, the user may specify a common name orthe like associated with a remote media content device 130 of interest.A suitable search engine of the browser 228 may then be used to identifythe remote media content device 130 of interest and then establish acommunication link 134 thereto. The descriptive information provided bythe user may also be used to identify a particular stream of audiocontent of interest that the user is interested in receiving from thatparticular remote media content device 130.

For example, the user might generally specify that the media device 102should log into the website of “Company ABC” and want to access itscountry music channel. Then, the processor system 204, using the browser228, would obtain access information for the website associated with“Company ABC” and then establish the link 134 between the media device102 and the “Company ABC” remote media content device 130. Then, theprocessor system 204 can explore and discover the requested “countrymusic channel” that is available at the linked-to remote media contentdevice 130. Streaming audio content could then be received by the mediadevice 102 from “Company ABC” for the requested country music.

In some embodiments, web pages of the like are presented to the user onthe display 150 when the user is operating their media device 102 toaccess a particular remote media content device 130. Thus, the user mayenter in search criteria, select a particular web page of interest,navigate through one or more subsequently presented web pages, to arrivea web page that permits selection of a particular audio content streamof interest (such as the above described “Company ABC” country musicchannel.) The user may then actuate one or more of the controllers 232of the remote control 230, or another suitable input device, to selectthat particular remote media content device 130 and/or the particularaudio content stream of interest provided by the remote media contentdevice 130.

In other situations, one or more audio content devices 136 mayalternatively, or additionally, provide a stream of audio content (astream of songs) to the media device 102. Here, the device interface 218is used to communicatively couple one or more of the audio contentdevices 136 to the media device 102. A wire-based connector, such as afiber optic cable, a coaxial cable, a HDMI cable, or other suitable wireconnectors may be used for the link 134 between the media device 102 anda particular audio content device 136. Each of the audio content devices136 are identifiable with a unique identifier that is stored in thepointer table 226 or in another suitable memory medium or memorylocation.

For example, the audio content device 136 might be a record player, a CDplayer, a DVD player, a cassette tape player, or the like that accessesa series of songs from a memory medium. As each of the individual songsare received, via the link 134, from the operating audio content device136, the received songs are saved into the content buffer 208, thememory medium 106, or the like The saved songs are associated with anaudio content device identifier that uniquely identifies that particularaudio content device 136 that provided the song. In some embodiments,associated video content may be also saved into the content buffer 208,the memory medium 106, or the like along with the received songs.

Alternatively, or additionally, the device interface 218 may beconfigured to receive wireless signals from one or more of the remotemedia content devices 130. For example, the user may configure aportable electronic device to output a stream of songs. The media device102 would then receive the wirelessly communicated stream of audiocontent and save individual songs into the content buffer 208, thememory medium 106, or the like.

In practice, the user specifies (predefines) a plurality of differentaudio content sources prior to shuffle play operation. In an exampleembodiment, a list of the predefined audio content sources is storedbased on user input. In some embodiments, an audio content shufflegraphical user interface (GUI) 236 may be presented to the user on thedisplay 150 or on another suitable visual display device. For example,the audio content shuffle GUI 236 could be presented on the display of asmart phone, lap top computer, note pad or the like. The user is thenable to specify (predefine) one or more audio content sources using theaudio content shuffle GUI 236.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual illustration of an embodiment of the audiocontent shuffle GUI 236. The exemplary audio content shuffle GUI 236 isconfigured to be presented on the display 150. Other audio contentshuffle GUIs 236 may be configured for presentation on other types ofvisual display devices and/or portable electronic devices having adisplay 150 thereon.

The audio content shuffle GUI 236 is a type of a user interface thatpresents a menu, or a series of menus, that indicate selectable audiocontent sources that may be selected by the user to provide audiocontent during shuffle operation. The audio content shuffle GUI 236 hasthe look and feel of a table that uses a combination of text and/orsymbols to indicate the selection choices that may be made, or that havebeen previously made, by the user to predefine the audio content sourcesthat are to provide songs during shuffle operation. The user, byactuating one or more of the controllers 232 on the remote control 230(FIG. 2), is able to “scroll” or “navigate” about the audio contentshuffle GUI 236 to select one or more audio content sources of interest.

Here, the exemplary audio content shuffle GUI 236 has a first region 302that lists various broadcasting type audio content sources, referred toas stations, that are broadcasting audio content that the media device102 might receive. Some media devices identify such stations using anassigned channel number and/or station call signs. For each availableaudio content source, unique identifying information 304 and acorresponding selectable region 306 for each of the stations areindicated on the presented audio content shuffle GUI 236.

The identifying information for each station intuitively informs theuser about the characteristics of each listed audio content source. Forexample, in a broadcast environment, channel identifiers may beindicated. Thus, the user intuitively understands which channel of audiocontent they might select based on the identified channel number.

Additionally, or alternatively, a station's call sign may be alsoincluded in the identifying information 304. Here, the user likelyintuitively understands some particular aspect of the associated audiocontent source when they see the station's call sign. A call sign is anabbreviated identifier that has been registered with and/or has beenassigned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Further, theidentifying information 304 may provide textual information describingcharacteristics of the type of songs available from that particularaudio content source.

To illustrate, the first listed audio content source is identified as“Channel 253: KLMN—Classic Rock N' Roll” in the example audio contentshuffle GUI 236. Here, the user appreciates that if they were usingtheir media device 102 to currently access audio content for immediatepresentation, that particular audio content source would be found atstation 253. Here, the user may already be familiar with station KLMN,and thus appreciate that that particular audio content source will beproviding songs that the user would like to listen to. Alternatively, oradditionally, the user may be interested in rock and roll type music,and thus be informed that station KLMN on channel 253 is providing thattype of audio content.

Selection of particular audio content sources may be made by the user bynavigating to and then selecting that associated selectable region 306using controllers 232 on the remote control 230, or by using anothersuitable input device. Further, the selectable regions 306 may indicatewhether a particular one of the audio content sources has beenpreviously selected as currently being one of the predefined audiocontent sources that will be providing songs for the shuffling process.For example, the selectable region 308 is shown with black shading toindicate that that particular audio content source has already beenselected by the user for inclusion as one of the currently activepredefined audio content sources that will be accessed to provide songsduring a shuffle operation. In contrast, the selectable region 310,shown with white shading, indicates that the audio content source(identified as “Channel 254: ABCD—Deep Tracks Rock N' Roll”) is notcurrently selected as one of the predefined audio content sources. Thus,upon initiation of the shuffle operation, songs from that station willnot be used to provide songs for shuffling.

To further conceptually illustrate operation of an exemplary audiocontent shuffle GUI 236, the selectable region 312 is highlighted (shownas a dark border line) to indicate that this particular selectableregion 312 is active. For example, the user may have navigated to thatselectable region 312. Thus, if the user then actuates one or more ofthe controllers 232 on the remote control 230, or another suitable inputdevice, then that associated audio content source (identified as“Channel 255: RSTV—Classic Country”) will then become selected as one ofthe predefined audio content sources that will provide songs forshuffling. That is, a user generated add selection causes the processorsystem 204 to add the selected audio content source as a new member ofthe plurality of predefined audio content sources that will be used inthe subsequent shuffle operation. Conversely, had the selectable regionalready been selected (black shaded), a user generated remove selectionwould cause the processor system 204 to remove the selected audiocontent source as a member of the plurality of predefined audio contentsources that will be used in the subsequent shuffle operation.

Some media devices 102 may not be controllable by a remote control 230.For example, the media device 102 may be a laptop computer, smart phone,note pad or the like. Such devices may be configured to enablenavigation about the audio content shuffle GUI 236 by the user with amoveable icon 314 (represent able as a pointer, an arrow, glove/hand, orother suitable icon). Here, the user has moved the icon 314 to hoverover the selectable region 316. Thus, if the icon 314 is actuated, theaudio content source associated with the selectable region 316 will thenbecome selected as one of the predefined audio content sources that willprovide songs for shuffling.

In practice, during shuffle operation, the processor system 204 tunesone of the tuners 202 a-i to receive the media content stream 108 thatis associated with that particular channel number and/or call sign thathave been predefined by the user. Here, identifier informationassociated with the selected broadcasting type audio content sources isstored in the pointer table 226 or in another suitable memory medium ormemory location. The identifier information enables the processor system204 to operate the tuners 202 a-i.

Information used to generate the audio content shuffle GUI 236 may bestored in the pointer table 226 (or in another suitable memory medium ormemory location of the memory 206). Thus, a listing of thebroadcasting-type audio content sources can be generated for inclusionon a presented audio content shuffle GUI 236. The identifyinginformation for the plurality of audio content sources may be obtainedin a variety of manners.

In an example embodiments, prior selections made by the user are used togenerate the listed audio content sources indicated on the presentedaudio content shuffle GUI 236. Thus, a running list of previouslyselected audio content sources may be maintained. Further, previouslyselected audio content sources may be indicated as being, or not being,currently selected based on their status used during the preciousshuffle operation. In some embodiments, the user is able to remove ordelete a particular audio content source from the list of prior-selectedaudio content sources.

In some embodiments, the media device 102 may include a learningfunction (such as a neural network or the like) that is configured tomonitor prior user behavior, such as selection of particularbroadcasting-type audio content sources that the user has previouslyselected for listening. For example, if the user has selected aparticular audio content source to listen to more than some predefinedthreshold number of times and/or within some predefined threshold oftime, that particular audio content source may then be added to the listof audio content sources presented on the audio content shuffle GUI 236.

Alternatively, or additionally, the user might be viewing an EPG (notshown). A particular audio content source of interest listed on apresented EPG may be selected by the user for inclusion on the listingof audio content sources. For example, selection could be made for ahighlighted identifier indicated on the presented EPG that is associatedwith a particular audio content source in response to the user'sactuation of one or more of the controllers 232 on the remote control230, or by using another suitable input device. Accordingly, thatparticular audio content source may then be added to the list of audiocontent sources that will be presented on the audio content shuffle GUI236.

Alternatively, or additionally, the media device 102 may be configuredto receive audio content from one or more audio content devices 136 thatare, or that may be, communicatively coupled to the media device 102. Atextual descriptor 320 intuitively informs the user which particularaudio content devices 136 are available. For example, the textualdescriptors 320 on the exemplary audio content shuffle GUI 236 indicatethat audio content may be available from a CD player, a record player,an auxiliary RF tuner, and a portable media device.

In an example embodiment, audio content devices 136 that are currentlyavailable to provide audio content to the media device 102 are indicatedin the region 318 of the audio content shuffle GUI 236. The identifiersof these audio content devices 136 are stored in the pointer table 226,or in another suitable memory medium or memory location. In someembodiments, the stored predefined identifiers correspond to a pluralityof available connection ports of the device interface 218.Alternatively, or additionally, the user may specify particular ones ofthe audio content devices 136 that are to be listed on a presented audiocontent shuffle GUI 236.

Alternatively, or additionally, the listing of audio content devices 136shown in region 318 may be dynamically determined when presentation ofthe audio content shuffle GUI 236 is initiated. For example, HDMIcompatible audio content devices 136 communicatively coupled to a HDMIcompatible media device 102 may be discovered by the media device 102since HDMI compatible devices broadcast their identifying information toother HDMI compatible devices.

Each of the listed available audio content devices 136 are associatedwith a corresponding selectable region 306. Here, the user is able tonavigate about the presented audio content shuffle GUI 236 to select ordeselect audio content devices 136. If selected, and if a stream ofaudio content is being currently received during shuffle operation, thensongs received from that selected audio content device 136 is storedinto the content buffer 208, the memory medium 106, or the like.Available identified audio content devices 136 may be selected ordeselected in any suitable manner.

For example, the black-shaded selectable region 322 shown on the audiocontent shuffle GUI 236 conceptually indicates that audio contentreceived from the record player has been selected as one of thepredefined audio content sources that will provide songs for shuffling.Conversely, the white-shaded selectable region 324 indicates that the CDplayer has is not currently selected as one of the predefined audiocontent sources. Here, if the record player is playing a record, songsreceived from the record player are presented during shuffle operation.Even if the CD is operating (playing a CD), songs received from the CDplayer are not presented during shuffle operation since the CD playerhas not been selected.

As another example, the user may navigate to and select the selectableregion associated with the portable media device. Here, the use may havepredefined their cellular phone, smart phone, lap top, note pad or otherdevice as being the portable media device. If selected by the user,songs stored on the memory medium of the portable media device will bereceived at the media device 102, stored, and then played during ashuffle operation. Alternatively, or additionally, that portable mediadevice may be used to access songs from other remote media contentdevices 130.

Selected audio content sources may include songs received at the mediadevice 102 from one or more remote media content devices 130. Apresented audio content shuffle GUI 236 may include a region 326 thatindicates to the user selected (predefined) and/or available remotemedia content devices 130 that may provide songs for presentation duringshuffle operation. Unique identifier information 328 intuitively informsthe user about which particular remote media content devices 130 havebeen selected or are available for selection. A corresponding selectableregion 306 are indicated on the presented audio content shuffle GUI 236for each indicated remote media content device 130.

For example, the text “Tunes 4 U: On demand rock and roll(www.tunes4u.com/rock)” indicates to the user that the web site (anexemplary remote media content device 130) has been selected forproviding songs that will be presented during shuffle operation (sincethe corresponding selectable region 330 is shown with dark shading). Forexample, this particular predefined audio content source indicated onthe content shuffle GUI 236 indicates that this one of the plurality ofpredefined audio content sources is associated with a previous shuffleoperation.

Further, the identifier information 328 informs the user that the songsmay be expected to be rock and roll type songs. Further, the userappreciates that the media device 102 will establish a link 134 to thewebsite www.tunes4u.com when shuffle operation is initiated.(Alternatively, in some embodiments, the link 134 to the websitewww.tunes4u.com may already be established prior to initiation of ashuffle operation.)

Conversely, the user appreciates that songs will not be received fromthe “Free Music” website (a selectable remote media content device 130)since the selectable region 332 is shown with a white shading. If theuser wishes to receive songs from that particular website during shuffleoperation, the user may navigate to and then select the selectableregion 332 (as described herein for selection or de-selection of otherselectable regions 306).

In the various embodiments, a list of remote media content devices 130may be defined in a variety of manners. A remote media content device130 may be identified in the audio content shuffle GUI 236 if the userhas already selected and/or de-selected that particular remote mediacontent device 130 for providing songs during previous shuffleoperations.

Alternatively, or additionally, the user may operate the browser 228(FIG. 2) to navigate to a remote media content device 130 of interest.While navigating to or about pages from that particular remote mediacontent device 130, that remote media content device 130 may be selectedor de-selected is response to the user actuating one or more of thecontrollers 232 on the remote control 230, or by using another suitableinput device. Alternatively, or additionally, the browsing process maybe performed at another electronic device, and information identifyingthe particular remote media content device 130 may then be communicatedto the media device 102 for selection or de-selection of that remotemedia content device 130. For example, the user's cellular phone, smartphone, lap top or note pad may provide information to the media device102.

Alternatively, or additionally, the media device 102 may include alearning function (such as a neural network or the like) that isconfigured to monitor prior user behavior, such as selection ofparticular remote media content devices 130 that the user has previouslyselected for listening. For example, if the user has selected aparticular remote media content device 130 to listen to more than somepredefined threshold number of times and/or within some predefinedthreshold of time, that particular remote media content device 130 maybe added to the list of audio content sources presented on the audiocontent shuffle GUI 236.

Alternatively, or additionally, the learning process may be performed byanother electronic device, and information identifying the particularremote media content device 130 may be communicated to the media device102 for selection or de-selection of that remote media content device130. For example, the user's cellular phone, smart phone, lap top, notepad or other device may provide the information about learned remotemedia content devices 130 to the media device 102.

Alternatively, or additionally, the region 326 may permit the user tospecify a particular remote media content device 130 that will be usedto provide songs during a shuffle operation. For example, the user maynavigate to and select the selectable region 334 which enables the entryline 336. The user, using a suitable input device, may then enteralpha-numeric text to specify a particular remote media content device130 of interest. For example, the user may enter the website address orthe like of a particular remote media content device 130. When a shuffleoperation is initiated, the media device 102 establishes a link 134 tothe identified remote media content device 130. User input may be madeusing the remote control 230, a keyboard device (not shown)communicatively coupled to the media device 102, a virtual keyboardpresented on the display 150, and/or another electronic device (such as,but not limited to, the user's cellular phone, smart phone, lap top ornote pad). In some embodiments, the processor system 204 may beconfigured to access a particular website, using the browser 228, basedon a more general input specifying a website of interest.

Summarizing, the audio content shuffle GUI 236 intuitively indicates tothe user the identify of currently selected predefined audio contentsources that will be used to provide songs during a shuffle operation.For example, as illustrated in the conceptual audio content shuffle GUI236 of FIG. 3, the broadcast-type channel 253, the record player coupledto the media device 102, and the Tunes 4 U website will provide songsfor presentation during a shuffle operation (since these predefinedaudio content sources are denoted by the black fill of theircorresponding selectable region 306). During a shuffle operation, songsreceived from the broadcast-type channel 253, the record player, and theTunes 4 U website are saved into the content buffer 208, the memorymedium 106, or the like. When a song from one of those predefined audiocontent sources is presented (played), the initial portion of the song,or the entire portion of the song, is retrieved and presented.

The user exits when the user is finished selection of the plurality ofpredefined audio content sources using the content shuffle GUI 236, thusconstituting the user specification of a plurality of predefined audiocontent sources. In some embodiments, presentation of shuffled songs maybe initiated in response to exiting the content shuffle GUI 236.

An icon used to represent a selectable region 306 can be of fixed shapeand/or size. Additionally, an icon can depict an arbitrarily shaped areawith a distinctive pattern, color, and/or boundary. In some embodiments,the icon fill color, pattern, and/or brightness/intensity may be used toindicate whether the associated audio content source has been selectedor de-selected.

In the various embodiments, during a shuffle operation, songs receivedfrom a plurality of predefined audio content sources are played to theuser in a shuffling manner. In some embodiments, the order of song playshuffling may be ordered (predefined) such that songs shuffling betweenpredefined audio content sources is repeated using the same order ofpredefined audio content sources. Alternatively, or additionally, theorder of song shuffling may be random. Any suitable method or providinga random selection of songs for presenting may be used by the variousembodiments.

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually illustrating four audio content streams402, 404, 406 and 408 received from four different predefined audiocontent sources (not shown). Each of the audio content streams audiocontent streams 402, 404, 406 and 408 comprise a plurality of songscommunicated serially in the audio content stream. The flow of receivedsongs is referenced from the left side to the right side of FIG. 4.

For example, the audio content stream 402 conceptually illustrates thata first song (S1) has been received from a first predefined audiocontent source (SRC1). The first song S1/SRC1 has a beginning (indicatedby reference numeral 410) and an end (indicated by reference numeral412). Thus, the initial portion 414 of the first song S1/SRC1 isunderstood to be initially received at the media device 102 from thefirst predefined audio content source SRC1 and the concluding portion416 of the first song S1/SRC1 is later received. This first song S1/SRC1is stored into the memory medium 106 as it is being received at themedia device 102.

The second song S2/SRC1 is next received at the media device 102 fromthe first predefined audio content source SRC1, and is saved into thememory medium 106. Similarly, the next songs S3/SRC1, S4/SRC1, andS5/SRC1 are received and stored. As illustrated, the series of receivedand stored songs received from the first predefined audio content sourceSRC1 (denoted by the identifiers S1/SCR1 through S5/SCR1) have little orno discernible gap, space, or the like between received songs. Forexample, such a stream of songs might be received from a playing recordor CD.

Songs may have a variety of lengths of time (duration). For example, thefirst song S1/SRC1 received from the first predefined audio contentsource SRC1 has a shorter duration than the example first song S1/SRC2received from the second predefined audio content source SRC2. Thus, thetiming of the receipt of songs from the various predefined audio contentsources 402, 404, 406 and 408 are not likely to be synchronized in timewith each other.

The fourth predefined audio content source SRC4 illustrates that gaps orspaces in the audio content stream may separate the songs. For example,the intervening gap 418 separates the end of the first song (S1/SRC4)from the beginning of the second song (S2/SRC4). Similarly, the gaps420, 422, 424 separate the songs S2/SRC4 and S3/SRC4, songs S3/SRC4 andS4/SRC4, and songs S4/SRC4 and S5/SRC4, respectively. These exemplarygaps may have the same duration or different durations.

Audio information may reside in one or more of these the gaps 418, 420,422, 424. For example, if the fourth predefined audio content sourceSRC4 is a broadcasting radio station or the like, the gaps 418, 420,422, 424 may comprise commercial content, commentary content, or thelike. As another example, the fourth predefined audio content sourceSRC4 may be a broadcasting television station or the like that isbroadcasting a movie, wherein scenes with dialogue between actorscorresponds to the gaps 418, 420, 422, 424. Accordingly, the gaps 418,420, 422, 424 may correspond those movie scenes that do not include asong or other musical content of interest.

Typically, individual songs received in a stream of audio content haveidentifiable beginning and ends. For example, songs broadcasted from aradio station include some form of meta data that may include the songtitle and/or the name of the performing artist (which is presentable ondisplays of a radio or the like). Such broadcast songs may includeidentifiers that indicate the start (beginning) and the conclusion (end)of each song. Thus, the beginning and end of each song is directlyidentifiable.

If such beginning and end information is not directly available in thereceived audio content stream, that embodiments may be configured toidentify the beginning and end of a song based on a transition in thesong information. For example, when song title information changes, thetransition in that information infers the end of the current song and abeginning of the next song.

Additionally, or alternatively, the beginning and end may be identifiedby an analysis of the audio data itself. For sample, the processorsystem 204 may analyze the audio content and identify a period ofsilence (correspond to an absence of audio data in the received audiocontent stream), which may then be interpreted to correspond to the endof a current song and a beginning of a next song. If the gaps 418, 420,422, 424 correspond to commercials or other audio commentary,information identifying the beginning and end of the commercials may beused to inferentially determine the beginning and end of songs. In thesituation of a movie, individual songs are discerned, and then saved forplaying during a shuffle operation.

In some situations, the audio content of one or more of the gaps 418,420, 422, 424 may include a song or other musical content. To avoidsaving and playing such undesirable audio content, other aspects of theaudio content stream may be also considered. For example, the absence ofa song title would tend to indicate that the currently received audioinformation is not a song that is to be stored and then played during ashuffle operation.

Embodiments are configured to use an appropriate analysis methodologyfor different types of predefined audio content sources. For example,the analysis method used to identify the beginning and end of songs in abroadcast stream having the example gaps 418, 420, 422, 424 will bedifferent from the method used to identify the beginning and end ofsongs received from an audio content device 136 that is playing a recordor CD. Accordingly, the audio content shuffle processing logic 224includes the capability to identify the nature of the audio contentstreams provided from different predefined audio content sources, andthen identify the beginning and end of songs based on characteristicsassociated with the audio content. Thus, if songs are received from aplaying record and from a broadcast-type audio content source (withcommercial breaks between songs), the analysis method used to identifythe beginning and end of songs will be based on determining that songsare being received from a playing record, and that other songs are beingreceived from the broadcast-type audio content source.

When an individual song is received as stored into the content buffer208, the memory medium 106, or other memory medium, the storage locationindicating where the song has been stored is determinable, That is, thestorage location the beginning of the song and the end of the song issaved as the media device 102 is storing a received song into thecontent buffer 208, the memory medium 106, or other memory medium.Further, if different portions of a song are stored in differentlocations, the storage locations of the beginning and end of eachportion are known. This storage location information is stored in thepointer table 226, and is associated with the particular predefinedaudio content source that is providing the song to the media device 102.

For example, the storage location of the beginning of the first songS1/SRC1 received from the fourth predefined audio content source (SRC4)is determined as that song is being saved. The storage locationinformation corresponding to song's beginning is stored into the pointertable 226 along with an association of that particular predefined audiocontent source. The information stored into the pointer table 226 thatidentifies the beginning of the song is conceptually represented as “BEGLOC S1”. Similarly, information corresponding to the determined storagelocation of the song's end is then stored into the pointer table 226.The information stored into the pointer table 226 that identifies theend of the song is conceptually represented as “END LOC S1”.Accordingly, the information that identifies the song that is storedinto the pointer table 226 may be conceptually represented as “S1/SRC4:BEG LOC S1/SCR4; END LOC S1/SCR4”. When this first song (S1/SRC4) is tobe played during a shuffle operation, embodiments may retrieve and playthe entirety of this song by retrieving the location information fromthe pointer table 226, and then retrieving that song from the contentbuffer 208, the memory medium 106, or other memory medium based on theretrieved location information.

When a particular song stored in the content buffer 208, the memorymedium 106, or other memory medium is selected for presentation during ashuffle operation, the processor system 204 accesses the storagelocation information for the beginning of that song from the pointertable 226. Based on the beginning storage location information, theprocessor system 204 retrieves the song and initiates presentation tothe user. The storage location information that identifies the end ofthe song, in an example embodiment, is used to identify the end of thesong. Accordingly, when the end of the song is reached, as determined bythe ending storage location information from the pointer table 226, theprocessor system concludes presentation of that song and initiatesretrieval and presentation of the next song. Alternative embodiments maydetermine the end of a song in other manners as described herein.

The various embodiments may present songs using any suitable shufflingorder during a shuffle operation. FIG. 4 illustrates a serially orderedand repeated order of shuffling used in an example shuffle operation. Inthis example embodiment, a first song received from the first predefinedaudio content source SRC1 is initially played. When that first song hasbeen played in its entirety, a second song from the second predefinedaudio content source SRC2 is played in its entirety. Then, when thatsecond song has been played in its entirety, a third song from the thirdpredefined audio content source SRC3 is played in its entirety. Next,when that third song has been played in its entirety, a fourth song fromthe fourth predefined audio content source SRC4 is played in itsentirety.

In the conceptual shuffle operation example illustrated in FIG. 4, fourexample predefined audio content sources associated with the four audiocontent streams 402, 404, 406 and 408, respectively, are use to providesongs for the example shuffle operation. Thus, when the fourth song hasbeen played in its entirety, the shuffling returns to play a fifth songfrom the first predefined audio content source SRC1. The process ofshuffling through songs provided in the four audio content streams 402,404, 406 and 408 continues in the above-described serial order until aconclusion of the shuffle operation.

Here, the exemplary shuffle operation is initiated at a time T₀ (denotedby an arrow with a circled numeral “0”). Play of the entirety of thefirst song S1 received from the first predefined audio content sourceSRC1 can begin at time T₁ (denoted by an arrow with a circled numeral“1”) when the beginning 410 of the song S1/SCR1 is received at the mediadevice 102. The presentation of the song S1/SCR1 continues until itsending has been played at a second time T₂ (denoted by an arrow with acircled numeral “2”).

As the first song S1/SRC1 is being played, the songs received from theother predefined audio content sources are received at the media device102. These songs S1/SRC2, S2/SRC3 and S1/SRC4 are saved in theirentirety into the content buffer 208, the memory medium 106, or othermemory medium as they are being received at the media device 102.

Thus, when playing of the first song S1/SRC1 concludes at the time T₂, ashuffling occurs to a song provided by the second predefined audiocontent source SRC2 (illustrated as the shuffled-to song S2/SRC2). Sinceat least the beginning of this song S1/SRC2 has already been receivedand stored in the memory medium 106, the stored initial portion of thissong S1/SRC2 is retrieved and played (since the information identifyingthe beginning storage location of this song has been saved into thepointer table 226). The concluding or remaining portion of the songS1/SRC2 is saved as it is being received at the media device 102.Accordingly, the entirety of this songs S1/SRC2 is played as the secondsong during the example shuffle operation.

Presentation of the second song S1/SRC2 continues until its ending hasbeen played at a third time T₃ (denoted by an arrow with a circlednumeral “3”). Then, at the time T₃, a next shuffling occurs to the songprovided by the third predefined audio content source SRC3. It isappreciated that presentation of the song S1/SRC2 concludes at a latertime than a time that the end of the song S1/SRC2 is actually receivedat the media device 102 because a first time delay (T_(d1)) is incurreddue to an amount of time (a delay duration) associated with theretrieval and presentation of the stored initial portion of this secondpresented song S1/SRC2 from the content buffer 208, the memory medium106, or other memory medium.

In the example shuffle operation illustrated in FIG. 4, currentlyreceived songs in any particular predefined audio content source arepresented when that particular predefined audio content source isselected in the shuffling process. Here, the currently received songthat has been saved from the next shuffled-to audio content source SRC3is the second song S2/SRC3. That is, the beginning of this second songS2/SRC3 has been received and saved.

Since at least the beginning of this song S2/SRC3 has already beenreceived and stored in the content buffer 208, the memory medium 106, orother memory medium, this beginning of this song S2/SRC3 is retrievedand played (since the information identifying the beginning storagelocation of this song has been saved into the pointer table 226).

Further, in this example shuffle method, it is appreciated that thepreviously received song S1/SRC3 is not played in view that the entiretyof the second song S2/SRC3 will be available for presentation. Inembodiments that employ this exemplary shuffling process, thispreviously received and stored song S1/SRC3 may be deleted, erased,discarded or otherwise overwritten (interchangeably referred to hereinas being deleted). When the shuffling process plays the entirety of acurrently received song, previously received and stored songs from thatparticular predefined audio content source may be deleted. Accordingly,the required memory capacity of the content buffer 208, the memorymedium 106, or other memory medium may be managed in an improvedfashion. That is, the memory capacity of the content buffer 208, thememory medium 106, or other memory medium may be less than memorycapacity that is otherwise required in an embodiment that saves andretains all received songs from the plurality of predefined audiocontent sources (see for example, FIG. 5 which illustrates operation ofsuch an embodiment where the first song S1/SRC3 is played after theconclusion of the song S1/SRC2).

Continuing with the conceptual shuffle operation illustrated in FIG. 4,a next shuffling occurs at the end of the song S2/SRC3 received from thethird predefined audio content source SRC3. This next shufflingoperation is denoted as occurring at a fourth time T₄ (denoted by anarrow with a circled numeral “4”). The fourth song to be played in thisexemplary shuffling sequence is the currently received song S3/SRC4received from the fourth predefined audio content source SRC4. This songS3/SRC4 is selected due to the effect of the time delay T_(d2)associated with retrieving and playing the initial portion of the thirdpresented song S2/SRC3.

Next, a shuffling to a fifth song provided by the first predefined audiocontent source SRC1 occurs. This shuffling occurs at time T₅ (denoted byan arrow with a circled numeral “5”). The delay in shuffling time fromthe fourth predefined audio content source SRC4 back up to the firstpredefined audio content source SRC1 is delayed by some duration,T_(d3). The shuffled-to song at that time T₄ will be the song S4/SRC1,which will be played in its entirety.

The above-described shuffling process continues as currently receivedsongs in the four predefined audio content sources are received.Shuffling continues in the above predefined order of the four predefinedaudio content sources. In this embodiment, played songs and/or songsthat are not played (such as the example songs S1/SRC3, S1/SRC4,S2/SRC4, S2/SRC1, and S3/SRC1) may be deleted from the content buffer208, the memory medium 106, or other memory medium. When the shufflingprocess concludes, an example embodiment may delete all saved songs.

In an alternative embodiment, at least one song from one of thepredefined audio content sources may be saved in the content buffer 208,the memory medium 106, or other memory medium. For example, but notlimited to with respect to the example embodiment described in FIG. 4,the last song played during the previous shuffle operation that wasreceived from the first predefined audio content source (SRC1) may besaved. Thus, when the shuffle operation is initiated at the initial time(T₀), at least one song in its entirety can be retrieved from thecontent buffer 208, the memory medium 106, or other memory medium sothat play can immediately begin. Any number of songs may be retainedfrom a previous shuffle operation. Further, an alternative embodimentmay save the last complete received song that was saved in the contentbuffer 208, the memory medium 106, or other memory medium.Alternatively, or additionally, the currently played song, or lastplayed song, during the previous shuffle operation may be saved in itsentirety for later play during the subsequently initiated shuffleoperation. If the concluding part of this last song has not yet beenplayed and/or received, the media device 102 continues to save this lastplayed song until it ends.

The shuffle operation may be concluded in a variety of manners. In anexample embodiment, the user enters into a suitable GUI, such as theaudio content shuffle GUI 236, and actuates or selects a selectableregion (not shown). Alternatively, or additionally, the user may actuateone or more controllers 232 disposed on the surface of the remotecontrol 230. Alternatively, or additionally, the user may simply turnoff the media device 102. Any suitable means of ending the shuffleoperation may be used.

The above-described embodiment in FIG. 4 rotated through the examplefour predefined audio content sources in a predefined order (from SRC1to SRC2 to SRC3 to SRC4, and then returning to SRC1). Any number ofpredefined audio content sources may have been used. Alternatively, oradditionally, the shuffling order that the four predefined audio contentsources may have been random. A suitable randomization means would beused to select that next predefined audio content source that wouldprovide the next song upon conclusion of the currently played song.

FIG. 5 is a diagram conceptually indicating content stored in thepointer table 226. As songs are received from the plurality ofpredefined audio content sources storage location informationcorresponding to song's beginning and the song's end, along with theassociation of that particular predefined audio content source thatprovided that particular song, is stored into the pointer table 226.Thus, when that song is retrieved in its entirety from the contentbuffer 208, the memory medium 106, or other memory medium, theinformation in the pointer table 226 enables the processor system 204 toretrieve and present that song. For example, with respect to the songsconceptually illustrated in FIG. 4, the location information for thesong S1/SRC1 is “S1/SRC1: BEG LOC S1/SCR1; END LOC S1/SCR1” which isstored at the portion 502 of the pointer table 226.

Further, this example embodiment of FIG. 5 illustrates an alternativeshuffle operation process. In some situations, the user may wish to hearall songs received during a shuffle operation that are received from theplurality of predefined audio content sources. Some media devices 102may have a relatively large capacity content buffer 208, memory medium106, or other memory medium. For example, an embodiment may store thesongs in the DVR 210 (FIG. 2). Alternatively, or additionally, a memorymedium such as a flash drive memory or the like may be coupled to themedia device wherein songs received during the shuffle operation aresaved. Alternatively, or additionally, an audio content device 136 maybe configured to receive and store songs during a shuffle operation.

In such embodiments, all songs received from the predefined audiocontent sources are saved. During a shuffle operation, a first song isplayed from a first one of the predefined audio content sources. Shuffleprogresses through the other predefined audio content sources, either ina predefined order or randomly. When the shuffling returns to the firstpredefined audio content source, the next saved song that was receivedfrom that first predefined audio content source is retrieved and playedfrom the content buffer 208, the memory medium 106, or other memorymedium.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary pointer table 226 that is saving storagelocation information for three predefined audio content sources (SRC1,SRC2, and SRC3). In each region of the pointer table 226, the storagelocation information corresponding to song's beginning and end is saved.For example, the storage location information for the first predefinedaudio content source, songs S1 through Si has been saved. When a nextsong is received for the first predefined audio content source, thestorage location information for that next song will be stored into thepointer table 226 (following the entry for the previously received songSi/SRC1).

In practice, when the first song (S1/SRC1) received from the first oneof the predefined audio content sources is to be played during shuffleoperation, the processor system 204 (FIG. 2) access the storage locationinformation “S1/SRC1: BEG LOC S1/SCR1; END LOC S1/SCR1” from the pointertable 226. Based on the retrieved storage location information, thisfirst song S1/SRC1 is retrieved from is identified storage location inthe content buffer 208, the memory medium 106, or other memory medium.Here, the first song is identified (S1/SRC1) and is associated with thefirst predefined audio content source SRC1. The information identifyingthe beginning location of the first song S1/SRC1 is conceptuallyindicated as “BEG LOC S3/SRC1” in the pointer table 226. The endlocation of the first song S1/SRC1 is conceptually indicated as “END LOCS3/SRC1” in the pointer table 226.

The beginning and end locations of stored songs may be identified usingany suitable location information that identifies storage locations inthe content buffer 208, the memory medium 106, or other memory medium.Physical addresses and/or virtual addresses may be used. For example, ifthe first song S1/SRC1 is stored on a disk type drive memory medium,then the location information may specify a particular logical blockaddress in the disk (cylinder/head/sector). Any suitable format may beused for specifying storage location information by the variousembodiments.

In the example shuffle operation illustrated in FIG. 5, the shuffleorder is illustrated as being in a predefined order that proceeds fromthe first predefined audio content source to the second predefined audiocontent source, and then to the third predefined audio content source.In FIG. 5, the shuffling for the first three songs is identified by asolid-line arrow, where a circled number indicates the shuffle number.For example, at the conclusion of playing the first song S1/SRC1, theshuffle operation moves to the next song S1/SRC2 to play that song inits entirety, as indicated with the solid-line arrow with the numeral“1” thereon. At the conclusion of playing the second song S1/SRC2, theshuffle operation moves to the next song S1/SRC3 to play that song inits entirety, as indicated with the solid-line arrow with the numeral“2” thereon.

After the song from the third predefined audio content source has beenplayed in its entirety, the shuffling returns to the second song S2/SRC1that was received the first predefined audio content source, asindicated with the solid-line arrow with the numeral “3” thereon. Threecomplete shuffling cycles, in a predefined order, are illustrated inFIG. 5. In some embodiments, the shuffling order between the pluralityof predefined audio content sources may be random.

The example shuffle operation continues until ended by the user. In anexample embodiment, the stored songs are deleted from the content buffer208, the memory medium 106, or other memory medium at the conclusion ofthe shuffle operation. Accordingly, memory capacity of the contentbuffer 208, the memory medium 106, or other memory medium may bemanaged.

Alternatively, some embodiments may save one or more of the songs fromthe predefined audio content sources for a subsequent shuffle operation.For example, the last received song Si/SRC1 may be saved (while allother songs are deleted). Here, when the subsequent shuffle operation isinitiated, that last-received song Si/SRC1 is available for immediateplay, thus providing sufficient time for at least the beginning portionthe first song next predefined audio content source (such as the songS1/SRC2 of the second predefined audio content source) to be received atthe media device 102. Such an embodiment is particularly effective inthe event that the predefined audio content sources for the subsequentshuffle operation includes at least this first predefined audio contentsource.

However, in some situations, the user may have deleted or removed thisfirst example predefined audio content source from the plurality ofpredefined audio content sources that are to be used in the subsequentshuffle operation. For example, the previous shuffle operation may havebeen oriented by the user towards rock and roll themed music. Thesubsequent shuffle operation may be. for example, changed by the user tobe oriented towards holiday-themed music. Thus, if the first predefinedaudio content source in not included in the listing of predefined audiocontent sources for a newly initiated shuffle operation, that saved songSi/SRC1 may not be played. Rather, another song would need to be played.

Some embodiments may save at least one last-received song from each ofthe predefined audio content sources (or alternatively, from at leastsome number of the predefined audio content sources). Thus, if at leastone of the previously predefined audio content sources are included inthe listing of predefined audio content sources for the subsequentshuffle operation, at least one song is immediately available for playwhen the subsequent shuffle operation is initiated by the user.

In embodiments that save songs in accordance with the shuffle operationillustrated in FIG. 5, it is possible that the memory capacity of thecontent buffer 208, the memory medium 106, or other memory medium maybecome fully utilized, or reach a predefined capacity limit, at somepoint in the shuffle operation. That is, the content buffer 208, thememory medium 106, or other memory medium may become full. For example,a large number of predefined audio content sources may result in a largenumber of songs being concurrently received and save at the media device102. Alternatively, or additionally, the duration of the shuffleoperation may be relatively long such that a large number of songs arereceived and saved.

In situations where the capacity of the content buffer 208, the memorymedium 106, or other memory medium becomes fully utilized or reaches apredefined capacity threshold, embodiments may be configured to begin aprocess of selectively deleting previously received and stored songsfrom the content buffer 208, the memory medium 106, or other memorymedium. An example embodiment deletes previously played songs when thecapacity becomes fully utilized or reaches a predefined capacity limit.Alternatively, or additionally, previously played songs may be deletedafter they have been played.

Alternatively, or additionally, embodiments may stop storing newlyreceived songs that are provided by the predefined audio content sourcesuntil a sufficient number of previously received and stored songs havebeen played and then deleted. When additional memory capacity becomesavailable, the process of receiving and storing received songs mayresume.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of theaudio content shuffle system 100 are merely possible examples ofimplementations of the invention. Many variations and modifications maybe made to the above-described embodiments. All such modifications andvariations are intended to be included herein within the scope of thisdisclosure and protected by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A media device, comprising: a plurality ofinterfaces configured to receive at least an audio content stream fromone of a plurality of predefined audio content sources, wherein theaudio content stream comprises a plurality of songs that are seriallyreceived at one of the plurality of interfaces, wherein each one of theplurality of predefined audio content sources provide at least onedifferent audio content stream to the media device, wherein theplurality of predefined audio content sources have been predefined by auser to provide songs that are to be presented during a shuffleoperation, and wherein identifiers of each of the plurality ofpredefined audio content sources are stored at the media device; amemory medium communicatively coupled to the plurality of interfaces andconfigured to store each of the serially received songs as each song isbeing received at the plurality of interfaces, and configured to storeeach of the songs as they are received from the other ones of thepredefined audio content sources; a pointer table that has storagelocation information for each of the songs stored in the memory medium,wherein the storage location information for each song defines at least:a beginning location information that indicates a location where abeginning of each song is stored in the memory medium; and an identifierthat uniquely identifies each song and the predefined audio contentsource that provided the song; and a processor system communicativelycoupled to the memory medium and the plurality of interfaces, whereinduring a shuffle operation that presents a shuffled series of songsreceived from the plurality of predefined audio content sources, theprocessor system is configured to: select a first predefined audiocontent source from the plurality of predefined audio content sources;select a first song having at least a beginning portion that is storedin the memory medium and that was provided by the selected firstpredefined audio content source; retrieve from the pointer table, basedon the identifier of the selected first song, the beginning locationinformation that indicates where the beginning of the first song isstored in the memory medium; in response to completing presentation of acurrent song to the user, retrieve the beginning portion of the firstsong from the memory medium such that the first song is then presentedto the user in its entirety; and select a second predefined audiocontent source from the plurality of predefined audio content sourcesthat is to provide a second song that is to be presented to the userupon conclusion of the presentation of the first song, wherein a firstinterface of the plurality of interfaces comprises a tuner that is tunedto receive a broadcast of an audio content stream being broadcast by thefirst predefined audio content source, wherein each song received fromthe first predefined audio content source is stored into the memorymedium as it is received via the communication system, wherein a secondinterface of the plurality of interfaces is configured to establish alink to a remote media content device via an intervening communicationsystem, wherein each song received from the remote media content deviceis stored into the memory medium as it is received via the communicationsystem, wherein a third interface of the plurality of interfaces isconfigured to communicatively couple to a record player that providessongs from a playing record, wherein each song received from the recordplayer is stored into the memory medium as it is received from therecord player, and wherein a fourth interface of the plurality ofinterfaces is, configured to communicatively couple to a compact disc(CD) player that provides songs from a playing CD, wherein each songreceived from the CD player is stored into the memory medium as it isreceived from the CD player.
 2. The media device of claim 1, wherein thefirst interface further comprises a plurality of tuners, wherein theprocessor system is further configured to: operate each one of thetuners to receive an audio content stream provided by one of theplurality of predefined audio content sources; store each song as it isreceived at each of the plurality of tuners in the memory medium; andfor each stored song, save into the pointer table the beginning locationinformation and the identifier of the predefined audio content sourcethat provided the song.
 3. The media device of claim 1, wherein thememory medium is a first memory medium, and wherein the media devicefurther comprises: a second memory medium communicatively coupled to theprocessor system that stores the pointer table.
 4. The media device ofclaim 1, wherein the processor system is configured to: generate anaudio content shuffle graphical user interface (GUI) based on theidentifier that uniquely identifies each of the plurality of predefinedaudio content sources stored in the pointer table, wherein the audiocontent shuffle GUI, when presented on a display, presents informationthat identifies each of the predefined audio content sources, andwherein the audio content shuffle GUI is configured to receive inputfrom the user to change the identified plurality of predefined audiocontent sources that will be used in a subsequent shuffle operation. 5.The media device of claim 4, further comprising: electronic programguide (EPG) information that is stored at the media device, wherein theprocessor system is further configured to: generate an EPG that ispresented to the user; receive an add selection of an audio contentsource made by the user via the presented EPG; add the selected audiocontent source as a new member of the plurality of predefined audiocontent sources that will be used in the subsequent shuffle operation;receive an remove selection of an audio content source made by the uservia the presented EPG; and remove the selected audio content source as amember of the plurality of predefined audio content sources that will beused in the subsequent shuffle operation.
 6. The media device of claim1, wherein the memory medium is a content buffer that is configured tooutput a stream of audio information, and a stream of video informationif present, to components of a media presentation system that includes adisplay and at least one speaker.
 7. The media device of claim 1,wherein the memory medium is a digital video recorder (DVR) that isconfigured to store media content received by the media device.
 8. Themedia device of claim 1, wherein the tuner that is tuned to receive abroadcast of a first audio content stream from the first predefinedaudio content source is a radio frequency (RF) tuner that is configuredto detect an over-the-air wireless signal broadcasted by the radiostation, wherein each song received from the radio station is storedinto the memory medium as it is received via the communication system.9. A method that shuffles songs presented by a media device, the methodcomprising: receiving, at the media device comprising a plurality ofinterfaces, user specification of a plurality of predefined audiocontent sources, wherein the plurality of predefined audio contentsources provide a plurality of songs presented during a shuffleoperation at the media device; storing, at the media device, informationidentifying each of the plurality of predefined audio content sourcesbased on the received user specification of the plurality of predefinedaudio content sources; concurrently receiving, during a shuffleoperation, a stream of audio content from each one of the plurality ofpredefined audio content sources, wherein each of the streams of audiocontent comprises a plurality of songs that are serially received at themedia device; storing each song in a memory medium of the media device,wherein each song is stored as the song is received at the media device;storing, in a pointer table at the media device, beginning locationinformation that indicates a location where a beginning of each song isstored in the memory medium of the media device; storing, in the pointertable at the media device, an identifier that uniquely identifies eachsong and the predefined audio content source that provided the song;selecting a first predefined audio content source from the plurality ofpredefined audio content sources; selecting a first song having at leasta beginning portion that is stored in the memory medium and that wasprovided by the selected first predefined audio content source;retrieving from the pointer table, based on the identifier of theselected first song, the beginning location information that indicateswhere the beginning of the first song is stored in the memory medium; inresponse to completing presentation of a current song to the user,retrieving the beginning portion of the first song from the memorymedium such that the first song is then presented to the user in itsentirety; selecting a second predefined audio content source from theplurality of predefined audio content sources that is to provide asecond song that is to be presented to the user upon conclusion of thepresentation of the first song; receiving a first plurality of songs ata first interface of the plurality of interfaces, the first interfacehaving a tuner that receives a broadcast of a first audio content streamfrom the first predefined audio content source, wherein each of thefirst plurality of songs received from the remote media content deviceis stored into the memory medium as they are received at the mediadevice; receiving a second plurality of songs at a second interface ofthe plurality of interfaces, wherein the second interface is configuredto establish a link to a remote media content device via an interveningcommunication system, wherein the second plurality of songs are receivedfrom the remote media content device, and wherein each of the secondplurality of songs received from the remote media content device arestored into the memory medium as they are received at the media device;receiving a third plurality of songs at a third interface of theplurality of interfaces, wherein the third interface is configured tocommunicatively couple to a record player to receive the third pluralityof songs from the record player, wherein the third plurality of songsare received from the record player that provides the third plurality ofsongs from a playing record, and wherein each of the third plurality ofsongs received from the record player are stored into the memory mediumas they are received at the media device; and receiving a fourthplurality of songs at a fourth interface of the plurality of interfaces,wherein the fourth interface is configured to communicatively couple toa compact disc (CD) player to receive the fourth plurality of songs fromthe CD player, wherein the fourth plurality of songs are received fromthe CD player that provides the fourth plurality of songs from a playingCD, and wherein each of the fourth plurality of songs received from theCD player are stored into the memory medium as they are received at themedia device.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: retrievingfrom the pointer table, based on the identifier of the selected secondsong, the beginning location information that indicates where thebeginning of the second song is stored in the memory medium; and inresponse to completing presentation of the first song to the user, andbased on the beginning location information that indicates Where thebeginning of the second song is stored in the memory medium, retrievingthe beginning portion of the second song from the memory medium suchthat the second song is then presented to the user in its entirety. 11.The method of claim 10, further comprising: selecting a third predefinedaudio content source from the plurality of predefined audio contentsources, wherein the third predefined audio content source provides athird song that is to be presented to the user upon conclusion of thepresentation of the second song; retrieving from the pointer table,based on the identifier of the selected third song, the beginninglocation information that indicates where the beginning of the thirdsong is stored in the memory medium; and in response to completingpresentation of the second song to the user, and based on the beginninglocation information that indicates where the beginning of the thirdsong is stored in the memory medium, retrieving the beginning portion ofthe third song from the memory medium such that the third song is thenpresented to the user in its entirety.
 12. The method of claim 9,wherein the tuner of the first interface is a first tuner, wherein thefirst interface comprises a second tuner, and wherein storing each songin a memory medium of the media device comprises: operating the firsttuner of the media device to tune to a first channel associated with abroadcast first audio content stream with the first song therein thatwas provided by the first predefined audio content source; and operatingthe second tuner of the media device to tune to a second channelassociated with a broadcast second audio content stream with the secondsong therein that was provided by the second predefined audio contentsource.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein prior to completingpresentation of the current song to the user, the beginning portion ofthe first song is received and stored at the media device, wherein uponcompleting presentation of the current song to the user a concludingportion of the first song has not yet been received and stored at themedia device, the method further comprising: storing the concludingportion of the first song in the memory medium as the concluding portionof the first song is received at the media device, wherein theconcluding portion of the first song is received and stored as thebeginning portion of the first song is retrieved from the memory mediumof the media device; and retrieving the concluding portion of the firstsong from the memory medium of the media device after the beginningportion of the first song has been presented to the user.
 14. The methodof claim 9, wherein prior to the selection of the second predefinedaudio content source from the plurality of predefined audio contentsources, the method further comprising: storing at least a beginningportion of the second song in the memory medium as the second song isreceived at the memory medium, wherein the second song resides in thereceived stream of audio content associated with the second predefinedaudio content source, and wherein the second song is received while thefirst song is being presented to the user.
 15. The method of claim 9,wherein receiving the user specification of the plurality of predefinedaudio content sources comprises: presenting a content shuffle graphicaluser interface (GUI) on a display, wherein the content shuffle GUIindicates the plurality of predefined audio content sources associatedwith a previous shuffle operation, and wherein the content shuffle GUIindicates a plurality of other audio content sources that are selectableby the user; receiving a first user selection of one of the indicatedplurality of predefined audio content sources associated with a previousshuffle operation, wherein the user selected predefined audio contentsource is deselected from the plurality of predefined audio contentsources to be used in a subsequent shuffle operation; and receiving asecond user selection of one of the indicated plurality of other audiocontent sources, wherein the user selected other audio content source isdefined as one of the plurality of predefined audio content sources tobe used in the subsequent shuffle operation.